Davina McCall reveals her final words before being put to sleep for brain tumour operation as she shares more details about ‘worrying’ surgery
Davina McCall has revealed the last words she said before being put to sleep for brain tumor surgery.
The TV presenter, 57, revealed on Friday that she underwent surgery that morning to remove a benign but ‘very rare’ colloidal cyst that affects only three in a million people.
In the latest episode of her Making The Cut podcast, which was recorded two days before her surgery, she shared more details about the procedure, confessing that she was “worried” and found everything “intense.”
Joining friend Michael Douglas on the podcast, she explained: ‘All I know is that I chose a great surgeon, I have absolute confidence in him.
“I’m going to give him the wheel, strap myself into the passenger seat and enjoy the ride.
‘While they’re pushing me – which is such a nice feeling, by the way – I’m going to set an intention and say, ‘love, love, love, all the way’.’
Davina McCall revealed the last words she said before being put to sleep for her brain tumor surgery as she shared more details about the ‘worrying’ operation
She made the comments on the latest episode of her Making The Cut podcast with boyfriend Michael Douglas, which was recorded two days before her surgery
Elsewhere in the chat, Davina confessed that she had been ‘ignoring’ the fact that her surgery was coming up and that she had ‘buried her head in the sand’ after learning she had a colloidal cyst as a result of a random health check.
Sharing her surprise at her diagnosis, she confessed, “I came into this health check feeling cocky. It’s me, fitness lady, and I have a benign brain tumor.’
Davina continued: ‘I kind of buried my head in the sand because they said it’s a colloidal cyst and sometimes it grows and sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it stays stable for years.
“So I thought, well, I don’t have to do anything about it, they can just rescan me. Then someone called me and said they would like to make an appointment with a neurosurgeon and I thought, “That doesn’t sound good!”
“So I went to talk to this person and he showed me my brain, which blew my mind, the weirdest thing ever. He pointed it out to me, it’s in my head.’
Davina revealed that she ‘didn’t really understand’ what the neurosurgeons were saying to her and sought help and advice from her doctor and a friend who also had a brain tumor in the past.
Revealing the risks of cyst removal, Davina shared: ‘It’s in the area of short-term memory – they say, “How’s your short-term memory?” I’m menopausal – it’s not great at the best of times!
‘But what I do know is that if my short-term memory is affected, there are things I can do about it. I’m a fighter and that’s that.’
Davina said: ‘While they’re pushing me – which is such a nice feeling, by the way – I’m going to set an intention and I’m going to say, ‘love, love, love, all the way.’ ‘
She joked about the craniotomy – where part of the skull was removed to access the brain – and continued: “Michael said if they took out a piece of my skull, unicorns and streamers and fireworks would appear …go a little deeper and you’d have a naked photo of Michael!’
But while she was quick to reassure that she was in good spirits, Davina admitted she was still worried about the operation.
Explaining why she chose not to reveal her pre-recorded news until she was in the operating room, she said: ‘I didn’t want the drama and I was really thinking about my children.
‘It’s hard enough to go through something like that on your own, but when there are a lot of people stopping you on the street and worrying about you – well, I’m worried – then I don’t need the worries of others . It’s intense, it’s really intense.
“I’m putting my phone down, no social media for a few weeks.”
Revealing why she chose to speak out about her surgery in the first place, Davina continued: “I know I’m well known and if I don’t tell people and I disappear for two or three weeks then they’re going to start digging and they’re going to tell their side of the story.
“I’d much rather they get something out of my mouth.”
The mother-of-three revealed she would be taking two months off work to recover, continuing: ‘It’s a big deal but I’m in very, very good hands. I don’t want you to worry about me.
“Me and Michael are rock solid, my kids are great, they’re coping brilliantly and I have really good friends around me. A lot of people are looking forward to me.
‘I took two months off, I have a lot of recommendations to watch and read, I’m going to learn to play a song that I can play for you [Michael]. I’m ready.’
Last weekend, in another update, it was revealed that she was out of surgery and was ‘recovering in intensive care’
Michael wrote on her Instagram: “Update folks. Thank you to all well-wishers. She has really made a huge leap forward in the past 24 hours’
Davina ended by asking her fans to keep an eye on her boyfriend, with whom she has been in a relationship for five years.
“Will you all take care of Michael?” she asked. “If you see him, give him a hug.”
Last week, Davina told fans she was undergoing brain surgery.
The presenter said she was diagnosed by chance after signing up for a ‘health scan’.
A colloidal cyst is a slow-growing tumor usually found near the center of the brain. The benign growth contains gelatinous material.
They are often asymptomatic and are found incidentally during imaging tests.
If symptoms occur as the tumor grows, they are typically reported to include headaches that are most severe in the morning upon waking, nausea, and blurred vision, with other major symptoms including dizziness and double vision.
Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms such as dizziness, memory problems and double vision may occur.
If a colloidal cyst is large enough, it hinders the movement of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. leads to a high risk of sudden death.
She said: ‘I was offered a health scan which I thought I would pass, but it turned out I had a benign brain tumor, which is very rare, three in a million.
‘I buried my head in the sand for a while, saw a few neurosurgeons, had quite a few opinions and realized I had to get them out.
‘It’s quite big, 14mm wide and needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad. I’ll have it removed.’
She added, “Say a prayer for me. I’m in a good mood.’
Davina explained that although she was not at immediate risk, doctors were concerned that the tumor could grow larger and cause complications.
She revealed that she was feeling “up and down” and explained that she would be in hospital for at least nine days before coming home.
The TV presenter, 57, shared the news in an Instagram post on Friday that she had a ‘very rare’ colloidal cyst that only affects three in a million people (pictured with Michael)
The presenter’s partner revealed a huge update on Tuesday that she is now no longer in intensive care.
He wrote on her Instagram: ‘Update people. Thank you to all well-wishers. She has really made a huge leap forward in the past 24 hours.
‘She is no longer in intensive care. She likes ‘consciousness’. Thank you xx Michael.”
The grid post then read: ‘Update – Mega progress in the last 24 hours. A huge relief to see some light breaking through. Thanks for all the good vibes coming in from all corners. Up and up.”